I Said Your Teaching Skills Were Lacking

"Now, everyone except those two, get out and run one hundred laps around Shrek Square. Anyone who fails to finish will be expelled immediately."

"I refuse to accept this! Why should we be punished when we weren't the ones fighting?" At that moment, a male student stood up and angrily demanded.

Zhou Yi said indifferently, "Because I said so. If you don't accept it, get out. I have the authority to expel any student. Get to the field right now, or you'll be expelled immediately."

As she spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from her. Two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings appeared, and the pressure of a Soul Emperor bore down on the unwilling students below.

Faced with the intimidation of a powerful expert, no one dared resist any longer. They could only scurry shamefacedly toward the field, leaving just three people in the spacious classroom.

Zhou Yi turned to Yao Shi and Wang Dong. Her expression remained stern, but her tone softened considerably. "You two aren't bad. Tell me, who did you fight, and why?"

Wang Dong was still considering her words when Yao Shi spoke directly. "We're roommates. We got into a conflict over something minor, so we fought."

"Roommates? Good fight. It's best when roommates fight. Only through competition can you improve together."

"But I don't like my own students fighting. Now get down there too and run one hundred laps around the square, just like them."

Wang Dong froze. "Teacher, didn't you just say we had spirit?"

Zhou Yi smiled as she said, "But I never said you didn't have to run. Since you're so promising, the difficulty should naturally be higher than theirs. You must finish your hundred laps at the same time as everyone else. Quite a while has already passed. Aren't you going down yet?"

Wang Dong looked unwilling, but after taking only a few steps, she saw that Yao Shi had not moved. Just as she was about to say something, Yao Shi spoke.

"Teacher Zhou, I won't run. Forgive my bluntness, but your so-called running assessment is practically useless for martial soul cultivation. So I won't be running."

Wang Dong stared at him in utter shock.

Yao, you're way too bold! You actually dared to confront this old woman head-on? Didn't you hear what she said? Can't you see those six soul rings of hers? Aren't you afraid she'll really expel you?

After hearing him, Zhou Yi's gaze turned cold. Her authoritative eyes locked firmly onto Yao Shi, and her voice became icy. "Oh? Are you questioning my teaching methods? Do you believe I can expel you right now?"

"I do. But I'll say it again: I won't run. This method of cultivation is of no help to me whatsoever. I came here to learn, not to experience your so-called running 'assessment.'"

"Teaching should be adapted to the individual. Different types of martial souls naturally grant different physical enhancements. Beast-type martial souls are inherently more physically enduring than other martial souls, yet you've imposed the same standard on everyone and made them all undergo this running assessment. Isn't that unfair to auxiliary-type students?"

"So am I wrong to say your teaching method is flawed? Your running method may be somewhat beneficial to martial soul cultivation, but the effect is negligible. The hundred laps you assigned might be difficult for others, but they're effortless to me. So what use are they to me?"

Ignoring Zhou Yi's gaze as if she wanted to devour him alive, Yao Shi retorted directly.

"Good, good, very good. In all my years of teaching, the classes I've led have always had the highest rate of advancement into the Inner Court. You're the first person who's dared to contradict me like this. Very good. You've got spirit. I like that."

"Since you've got so much spirit, and you say one hundred laps are effortless, then while everyone else runs one hundred laps, you two will run three hundred. I won't make things difficult for you. I'll give you twice as much time as them to finish. If you fail to complete it, you'll be expelled immediately!"

As she continued speaking, Zhou Yi's tone grew increasingly furious. It was obvious Yao Shi had provoked her.

Wang Dong: "!!!!!"

Hey, hey, hey! I didn't say anything! Why am I getting dragged into this for no reason?

After grumbling inwardly, Wang Dong looked at Yao Shi resentfully and cursed in her heart.

It's all your fault. Why did you have to provoke that old woman? It was bad enough that you beat me up on the first day of school, and now you've even gotten me involved in something that could get me expelled!

Waaah, I should've just stayed with First Father and Second Father and never come down.

"Didn't you say my teaching method was useless to you? Then finish these three hundred laps and prove it. Otherwise, pack up and get out."

"What's the price?"

Yao Shi looked at her calmly.

"What?"

Zhou Yi was also stunned by Yao Shi's question about the price.

"If I run three hundred laps and succeed, it merely proves that your teaching method doesn't suit everyone. If I fail, I'm expelled. It has no effect on you and offers me no benefit whatsoever, so why should I run?"

At this point, Wang Dong, standing beside him, was already trembling.

How did I end up provoking a madman like you on the first day of school? Zhao Zilong in the storybooks was courage incarnate, but you're practically made entirely of Zhao Zilong! You're just a two-ringed Soul Grandmaster—how can you provoke her like this? Are you really not afraid this old Soul Emperor hag will slit your throat?

"Since you put it that way, if you really complete three hundred laps, you won't have to attend any of my classes in the future."

"Not enough."

"Good, very good. A newborn calf truly does not fear a tiger. If you can finish three hundred laps, I'll resign from my position as a teacher of Shrek Outer Court."

"That will do. Then swear an oath on your martial soul. I'm afraid you'll go back on your word afterward."

Wang Dong: "!!"

No, man, you actually dare?

"Fine. I swear upon my martial soul that if... Right, what's your name?"

Only then did she realize she still did not know this student's name.

"Yao Shi."

Yao Shi answered calmly.

"I swear upon my martial soul that if Yao Shi truly completes three hundred laps, I will voluntarily resign from my post as an Outer Court teacher. If I fail to fulfill this oath, my martial soul shall shatter and I shall become an ordinary person."

As Zhou Yi's words fell, some sort of contract formed between her and Yao Shi, signifying that the oath had been established. Should she fail to uphold it, divine punishment would descend. No matter how powerful the oath-taker was, their martial soul would shatter.

The reason she dared make such an oath so decisively was naturally because she did not believe Yao Shi could truly finish it. After all, how could a two-ringed auxiliary-type Soul Grandmaster possess enough stamina to run that much?

After watching Zhou Yi make her oath, Yao Shi silently walked out of the classroom toward the square, leaving behind an enraged Zhou Yi and a bewildered Wang Dong.

"What are you still standing there for? Get down there and run with him!"

Zhou Yi shouted at Wang Dong.

"Old hag... pfft, Teacher Zhou, do I have to run three hundred laps too?"

"What do you think?"

After Zhou Yi glared at her, Wang Dong was immediately frightened into following Yao Shi to the square.

Three hundred laps... won't that kill me from exhaustion?

Pah, old hag, I'll remember this. When First Father and Second Father come, I'll definitely have them teach you a lesson. You're only a measly Soul Emperor—what are you acting so arrogant for?